A child receives a label based on prolonged occurrences of eight or more, out of a possible fourteen, symptoms before the age of seven. These symptoms have been identified as:

1. Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat.
2. Has difficulty remaining in seat when required to do so.
3. Is easily distracted by extraneous stimuli.
4. Has difficulty waiting turn in games or group situations.
5. Often blurts out answers to questions before they have been completed.
6. Has difficulty following through on instructions from others.
7. Has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activity.
8. Often shifts from one uncompleted activity to another.
9. Has difficulty playing quietly.
10. Often talks excessively.
11. Often interrupts or intrudes on others.
12. Often doesn't listen to what is being said.
13. Often loses things necessary for tasks or activities at school or at home.
14. Often engages in physically dangerous activities without considering the possible consequences